Sunday 10 January 2010

A Snowy Preston - 5th-9th January 2010

1 of 3 Fieldfare
1 of 2 Mistle Thrush

Thrush footprints leading to apple (which was dragged off to the left by Fieldfare)

As the snow fell on my garden lawn, so did the birds. My usual Blackbirds were joined by 3 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (1 being a presumed 1stw winter female) and a Song Thrush, all feeding on Apples and Raisins I put out for them.

My College was closed on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th which allowed me to spend time watching the different behaviour of birds in the snow. For example, Magpie was seen 'flycatching' snow flakes from my bird table and it kept flying to and from thin air.

Ever since the Mistle Thrush's have appeared in the garden, nothing else has! One particular Male was an absolute brute of a bird that mobbed everything within a 30 meter radius of his apples. The worst thing was that he generally just sat in a tree not even eating food himself which seemed pointless.

Apart from the unusual visitors to my garden(that made revision difficult due to their entertaining antics), I managed to make a quick stop at the beautifully wintery Cottam Brickworks and managed to see the (now aged at 1st winter) Willow Tit at the feeder for my Yearlist.

5 comments:

Lancs and Lakes Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Hi Zac

How do I get to the brickworks?

Cheers

Dave

Zac Hinchcliffe said...

providing that you are coming off the M55 at Broughton, head towards Cottam and at the roundabout at the Guild Merchant Pub (1st roundabout along Tom Benson Way) and take 2nd exit. Head towards Tulketh, and after about 1 mile, turn right down Cottam Road(it might not be Road but its defiantly Cottam something) head towards the bottom and park at the end. hope this helps....there is a grid reference on Fylde Bird Club Gazetteer.
Zac

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Many thanks Zac, I feel a twitch coming on, these are becoming hard to find now!

Cheers

Dave

Razboynik said...

Hi Zac, great blog.
I've just started birdwatching again after a 25 year hiatus, and decided to keep a blog. I would really appreciate a link on your blog. I've got your blog listed already.
Cheers,
Andy

Stuart Price said...

Nice Thrush shots and I really liked the Velvet Scoter ones too.

I tried for several Ring Necked ducks when i used to live in Preston but always missed them..........